Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-01-26


death film gathered over childish eyes,
no voice could soften the dark passage
TO the grave with sweeter, more earnest
words of comfort and promise than
Nettie's.
Seeing her thus, through the long
weeks of toll and danger, asking her
aid where money was urgently needed,
finding her at her post where the air
was thick with fever and the danger
frightfully near, Alfred Martin grew TO
consider the beautiful dark face as
fairer than his ideal of angels and to
think there was no music like Nettie's
clear, melodiouS voice. By the magne-
tlsm of bis own true, eaanest words, he
had led her from frivolity TO the seek
ing of higher aims and duties, and by
the power of the strong love wakened
! in his own heart he drew hers into his
keeping. She loved, as she followed all
other impulses, with fervent and deep
affection, while she was daily meeting
her love and the guide TO all the MODEST
pursuits of her life.
Mrs. Wheaton, a meek little widow,
was only too glad to think of her child's
future intruSted to the care of a really
! good man, as she believed the Rev.
Alfred Martin 10 be, and gave glad con-
sent to an engagement. And while au-
tumn winds were sweeping the fever
| from Morton, Nettie was learning the
sweet lesson of loving submission TO a
| stronger Will, was cOnquering many a
| life long sel6shneSS aHd folly to please
her betrothed, and believing that she
had lost all relish for the fTivolltleS of
| the past.
Had the marriage followed at once
upon the wooing, | think there would
have been happiness at the pa sonage,
where the influence of the earnest min
ister would have deepened till Nettie
no longer needed any earthly guide or
support. But Mrs. Wheaton decided
that the BRIDES trousSeau must come
! from B, and when the new year
opened Nettie went TO her Aunt Mary's
! to remain till milliners and dreSsmaker5
! completed her outfit. The wedding
was to be III March, anu while Aunt
Mary shopped and stitched, Nettie took
| farewell of the gayeties of her city
home. She did not mean TO be incon-
! sistent or to break any of the good res
I olutions of the past few months, but
old friends welcomed her with festival
gatherings, and before she realized it
the was dancing, flirting and fitting
from party to party with ali her old
zest and enjoyment.
Then, Just for amusement, she al
! lowed the new lion, Count LOdoSki, to
pay her marked attention. She told
herself she was safe in her happy en-
gagement, and that he was too much
man of society to have any serious in
I tentions.
1t was a mere flirtation for both Of
them, and it served to pass away time
TO listen to the stories of the Polish ex-
! lie, to waltz with him. drive, walk, ride
| with him, and yet, with wom2n's
skill and a coquette's ingenuity, keep
! him from any compromising offer that
would end the amusement.
The term of Nettie's visit was nearly
over, when the entertainment at Mrs.
Hunts called together large number
/ OF her old friends and new admirers.
/ Count Lodoski was more ardent than
J usual in his expressions of admiration,
and Nettie was uncomfortably con-
/ scious that he was presuming upon the
!
evening passed quickly, and 1t was near
] supper time when the count, with a
! courteous bow, offered his arm TO Net
! tie for a stroll through the cOnserva-
| tory, where a number of couples were
| ENJOYING the cool. fragrant air, after
dizzy waltz. They were chatting gayly
of the pleasures of the past few weeks,
of the coming festivals before Lent,
when Net.ie, looking up, found they
were the sole occupants of the conserY-
atOry.
The strains of the newest galop fully
explained the absence of their former
companions, and the girl was moving
quickly toward the door, when the
count gently but firmly held her back.
She realized in an instant the position
which her own folly had brought her,
but tried to effect unconsclousneSS
still.
"I am engaged for this galop count, "
she said, with her usual sweet smile,
$50 YOU must not detain me now"
SYet for while you will stay with
me.'' said the handsome foreigner in
his strongly accented English. 81
must say few words with YOU"
"Another time!"
"Now!n
The mans voice had a ring Of an
thority that Nsttie pesented instantly.
Let me passl'' she said, haughtily.
"You forget yourself strangely sir"
AZ forget all but love when | am near
you. ~ he cried, and broke into stream
of eloquence, an ulmiStakable oner OF
heart and hand, more than limiting that
he was sure of a return of his ardently
expressed devotion.
In vain Nettie endeavored to check
the flow of words, every one OF which
she felt was an insult TO the man she
really loved, in spite Of her foolish van
ity, and to whom she had promised
faithful affection. The count spoke so
rapidly that not until he paused for his
reply could Nettle find an opportunity
even to speak,
Then. in a faltering voice, half-choked
by her contendrng emotions, she de-
clined the honor of an alliance with the
Polish nobleman.
You cannot mean to refuse me"
he cried, in genuine astonishment;
ssyou can not mean that you have been
coquetting so heartlesslyl"
II mean that 1 must decline your
PROPOSAL" she answered, more firmly,
''and request you to allow me to pass
"But. Miss Wheaton-Nettiel You
love me; surely you would not let me SO
deceive myself. You love mel There
is some bar perhaps to our marriage:
but you love me-"
81 am already betrothed," the giri
said desperately, not conscious or the
Interpretation her words admitted oil
until a third voice spoke.
"Consider yourself free, Miss Whea-
ton, il you love this mani" said Mr..
Martin, stepping into the room. PAR
don my intrusion. L came unexPect-
edly to the city. and your aunt told me
YOU were here. Mrs Hunt kindly d.
rected me to this room, where l find my
coming most oppoItune. L nave the